Cheat to Beat - The new aussie mantra

As a 10 year old boy, I was first exposed to the game of cricket when the Indian cricket team toured "Down Under" just prior to their World Cup campaign in 1991-92. What I saw became my passion for the years to follow and that experience even made me harbour dreams of taking cricket up as a profession, which obviously never materialised.

But coloured clothing, white cricket ball, lush green outfield and ofcourse the game of Cricket completely got me transfixed and took me to a different world. For exactly these reasons, I always have had a special place in my heart for Australia and constantly looked forward to the India - Australia clash. The 1999-00 tour was an eye-opener for the Indian cricket team for they were comprehensively beaten and that set up the tempo for their performance in the Test series in 2003-04. The 2007-08 series was no exception and I was completely charged up to follow our teams fortunes in the land of the Kangaroos. I have always held the Aussie cricket team in high regard as they are a bunch of professionals who perform consistently. Although their consistency has also irked me whenever they have played against India :), I have never held it against them purely because everyone out there is playing to win and their team is no different.

But the 2nd test at Sydney has left a really sour taste in my mouth, not because India lost, but the manner in which they were denied a win they so richly deserved. I really dont care that the Aussie's have taken a 2-0 lead that has assured them that the Gavaskar-Border trophy stays with them. To me (and I am sure many others), the scoreline should have read 1-1.

Anyways, that cannot be changed, but what can be changed is the attitude of this Australian team who are acting like a bunch of bullies with oversized egos. They have started to think that they are above the game and that no one can (or dare) give them any competition. This was evident from the verbal volley from "Roy" to "Bhajji" during the latter's 1st innings exploits with the bat. The aussie's are irked at the slightest instance of a fight from the opposition and that is when they decide to stoop to pathetic tactics to destroy the opponents concentration.

It was extremely disappointing to see the famed captain of the Australian cricket team, Punter Ponting, the same guy who was thrashed outside a Kolkatta night spot for misbehaving with a lady about a decade ago, and who had proudly mentioned in a post match chat after the 7th ODI against India in Mumbai in 2007 that Murali Karthik should have walked if he had indeed edged the delivery from Brett Lee, to keep waiting for the umpires decision for a delivery that he knew he had edged.This shows that the guy has no credibility.He has no business to preach if he cant follow his own words.This is where the oversized ego comes into play, he just could not stomach the fact that he was failing to score against India. He simply failed to acknowledge good bowling. It was thus poetic justice that he was given out leg before to a delivery he nicked. Its little wonder that I have not heard any Indian cricketer make such comments in the past because they know they cant be true to it.

Micheal "Pup" Clarke went one step further when he gave a thick edge to Dravid in the first slip. For a batsman to stay on the crease after getting out in that manner clearly suggests only one thing, that his ego, and not the heart, can't accept failure. And once this starts to happen, its time for such individuals to re asses their priorities in the Sport and ask a question, Are they really being gentlemen in a gentleman's sport?............ Here I would like to clarify that these sort of things happen, and its totally acceptable, but for a team that talks of cleansing the game, having a sportsman spirit and most lately talked of playing the series fair and square, this is a Chameleon like behaviour. Both Roy and Hussey were lucky to get to their hundreds not only because they did not go about preaching fair play, but also because the umpiring standards were disgraceful.

All through the test match, the umpiring seemed biased towards the host team. How else would you explain the RP Singh leg before in the Indian 2nd innings. To me, that delivery and the first delivery to Roy in the Aussie second innings had a similar trajectory (although not the same).But Mr.Bucknor decided to give Roy notout (which for once was right, but then we dont expect anything else from Old Steve when Australia is batting).But the same umpire gave Singh out, that too by raising his finger almost as soon as the appeal was made and not taking his customary 5 seconds before giving a decision. Then we have Mr. Benson, which umpire in his right mind would ask a player if his teammate had taken a clean catch. No prizes for guessing whom the player would have supported. Add to that a couple of poor decisions from his end and a miserable failure from the 3rd umpire to do his job clearly shows that the story does not end with the Sydney test. This needs to be probed a lot deeper. The best way to start would be to relieve Mr. Bucknor and Mr.Benson of their official duties and to get them talking.

It would be an understatement to say that I am upset over the events. I have been fuming since yesterday afternoon and was looking for a way to put my views across to some like minded fellows. I have hence used this medium. I have no issues in accepting defeat, I have no issues in accepting the fact that the Aussie team is the best in the world. But if the Aussies start thinking that they are above the Game, then I have serious issues. I follow this game for the love of it and I think the Australian cricket team should do the same when they play it.

Your views are welcome. Positive or Negative is not an issue, I love debates. :)

View this video to get the hint.....

Australia, Bucknor and Benson beat India by 122 runs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyaz0g0EBXc